Thailand
Baptiste felt like he was floating the entire way back to the hotel, and it could very well have a lot to do with the blood he had just lost, but he chose not to think of it that way. Instead, he was floating on air because of the new and exciting connection he was forming. He'd never felt like this before! Niran gave him something Mauga could never give, and he needed more of it.
He didn't remember passing out like that, but he liked the way he felt when he woke up. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt… warm. He shrugged to himself, maybe it was just the whirlwind of emotions. He was so elated. He wanted to spend more time with him. He wanted to know him. He hated that he had to leave him, but his friend came back, and he didn't want to get him in trouble.
He wondered what she was like and was excited to meet her. He was aware there might be some hesitance when it came to being accepted, but once he proved his loyalty, everything should be okay. He pulled out his phone, keeping his promise to text him before he made it back to his hotel.
'I miss you already.'
He knew he probably sounded crazy, but he didn't care! He was tired of his monotonous life and was looking forward to exploring this new, sudden relationship. But what he wasn't too keen on was the upcoming—conversation? Breakup?—with Mauga.
He was lucky that he was able to slip out of the hotel alone that morning, but Mauga was sure to have returned by now! God, what was he going to say when he got back? What kind of lie could he come up with?
A hand went up to his neck, feeling the area Niran bit. There was no pain or anything! It was as if it never happened. If it weren't for his slight fatigue, he would think he imagined the entire thing up! It almost bummed him out. He wouldn't mind if he left traces on his body, he encouraged it!
As he got to his room, he sighed, dreading whatever lie beyond the door. His phone buzzed and he dug it out of his pocket with a stupid grin.
'Bap! I miss you too. Sorry I had to kick you out so soon. Did you make it back safely?'
Baptiste let out a short laugh. He understood. There was no need to apologize. He sent a quick response before going inside to meet his doom.
'I made it. And don't worry about it. I get it. When can I see you again?'
His initial thought was to scold himself for being so clingy, but it didn't seem to bother Niran in the least. "So beautiful," he said under his breath as he pushed open the heavy door to his hotel room and stepped into darkness. Was Mauga not there? He closed the door and turned the light on, walking into a vacant room. His stuff was still there, but he was not.
"I guess the universe is on my side," he said to himself with a sigh of relief, heading into the bathroom to wash away his sinful activities. He stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the shower, wondering why things were turning out this way. Because of one interaction that was less than two minutes long, his entire world was discombobulated.
He guessed he was just trying to figure out if it was in a good way or a bad way.
The talk he was going to have with Mauga certainly wasn't going to be pleasant, but the unpleasantness would only be temporary. The result was way worth it in his eyes. However… he felt like the scum of the earth. Mauga had been nothing but good to him for the past handful of years, how could he abandon him so easily?
Unfortunately, the thought of staying by his side made his stomach churn. He couldn't help it! They were just in different mental spaces in their lives; there was nothing he could do to control that! Mauga lived, breathed hunting, whereas Bap… it was getting old to him. He was tired of hurting the innocent. He was tired of visiting all these beautiful places to not be able to enjoy them. He was tired of getting himself hurt for no reason. But if he were to try and convince Mauga to give up hunting, he'd laugh in his face.
Baptiste was getting old. Well, not old, but older. He stayed active, but he could still feel how much toll certain things were beginning to take on his body. The fact that it took longer than normal to recover from his leg injury was the first sign. Sometimes, he was envious of Mauga. He didn't have to worry about his body deteriorating anytime soon with all the augmentation he had done to it. It was very likely that he'd be hunting for at least ten to fifteen more years.
"I'd lose my mind if I had to hunt for that much longer," he said, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. Heading over to the mirror, he checked his neck out and saw a faint bite mark, smiling to himself. He wasn't anticipating becoming a meal, but if he were honest, it wasn't all that bad. Maybe if vamps had their own source of blood, the world would be a lot more harmonious. Sadly, some of them were aggressive and either hated being one or hated humans and wished for their downfall. Not all of them were sweet like Bua.
"Heh." He chuckled to himself at the nickname he'd given him. He definitely reminded him of a beautiful lotus, so the name was fitting. And it was even cuter that he added his contact information to his phone under that name. He picked up his phone, cheesing at the text that had come through while he was showering.
'How about tonight? I want to show you around.'
Of course, Bap was going to go and see him! The only issue was getting rid of a certain someone…
'I'd love that. Just tell me when and where.'
He was glad Mauga wasn't there, wherever he may have been. It gave him some time to come up with an excuse as to why he wanted to go their separate ways. Should he tell him he met someone else? Could he even tell him? Or should he just say something along the lines of their time together running its course? How would he take it? How big of an argument would this start? He groaned, staring at his tired face in the mirror. He wished he could speed up time or just skip a few months to when he'd be happy.
He turned the bathroom knob, pushing the door open into the main room and stopped in his tracks when he saw Mauga sitting on the edge of the bed. "You're back!"
"I am back," Mauga said, oddly calm. As badly as he wanted to confront him, he had his own way of handling things. First, he wanted to see what kind of lie Baptiste was about to come up with. "Just wanted to give you that space you've been wanting. Anything special happen while I was out?"
"Nope… just stayed in and caught up on some rest is all," Bap said, his back to him as he rifled through his duffel bag. He didn't want him to see his face! He couldn't say he lied often, and because of that, he didn't know if he had a tell. He didn't want to take any chances.
"Yeah?" Mauga saw fresh marks on his back he'd probably forgotten about, and it pissed him off. More than that, it hurt. Badly. Even though he had the walk back to come to terms with the fact that he no longer had him in his grasp, it was still going to take some time to recover. He'd been with Baptiste for a huge chunk of his life, what the hell was he supposed to do now? Hunt alone? Who was he going to talk to and laugh with?
"Yeah," Baptiste threw on some shorts and a black tee shirt and crawled into bed with his phone. He should have taken a picture with his lotus before he left. He planned on getting a little more shut-eye before meeting up with him again later in the evening to recover some of the energy he sapped from him.
"Tired?" Mauga kept his position on the edge of the bed, unable to look at him. How was he supposed to sleep next to him knowing what he did? Although… maybe he was charmed! Since it was a bit on the expensive side, they didn't have any suppressants like they did when they raided the castle, so it was possible he succumbed to his hypnosis.
But… deep down, he knew the truth. He could no longer be delusional.
When would he come clean about it? They were supposedly there on a "hunt", and after he told him to turn back yesterday, what was he planning on saying to get out of it? He already had a plan brewing, but he didn't want to resort to those measures. He wanted Baptiste to come to him like a man and be honest.
"Little bit," Baptiste rolled onto his side, scrolling through a social media account while he waited for Bua to text back.
"So, uh," Mauga started, rubbing the back of his head. "About this hunt…"
Baptiste was suddenly ridden with guilt. What was he supposed to say? That he no longer had the will to hunt? That he fucked the vamp and planned to run away with him? That for some reason, he couldn't bear being away from him? How absurd. He needed a little more time to come up with something! "Tomorrow… we'll figure things out tomorrow, okay?"
"Tomorrow, huh?" Mauga said, glancing over his shoulder to see him on his phone. Should he wait a day to see if he comes clean?
"What about you?" Baptiste changed the topic before he slipped up and said something he didn't think through. "What have you been up to all day?" Just as he finished his question, his phone buzzed, and he grinned.
'What do you like to do?'
Bap couldn't think of anything in particular! Really, it didn't matter what they did, as long as they were together.
'Surprise me.'
"Me? I didn't do much," Mauga laid down, completely aware of the fact that he was texting somebody, which was out of the ordinary because he didn't have any friends! "Just walked around."
"Yeah?" Baptiste didn't expect a quick response, but his phone buzzed again, and he couldn't be more giddy.
'Okay. Meet me here at ten.'
Bap looked up the address that he'd sent, and it looked to be a karaoke bar. So, Bua liked to sing? He'd love to be serenaded by him!
'See you there. Can't wait.'
Mauga was feeling a little nosy, looking over him to see his phone. Who was he texting? The screen was a little far away, so he couldn't make out the name. His gut was telling him it was that damn vamp, but he didn't like jumping to conclusions. It was then that his eyes landed on his neck and found a mark. A bite.
It took everything in him not to snatch his phone and shove him out of the bed. Not only did he clearly screw that vampire, he let him feed?! Even if he had been charmed, there was no saving him now; he was too far gone. But that didn't change the fact that he was incredibly angry. This fucking sucked! What did he do to deserve this?! He'd been good to him, and for over a decade! Sure, he was a bit rough around the edges, but that was why he was so comfortable with him; he felt accepted! Now, he was being rejected like expired meat.
He lie on his back while Baptiste was buried in his phone. What was he supposed to do? Return to Samoa alone? How painful would that be? He didn't really hang out with anyone besides him, so what was he supposed to do to entertain himself? He heard shuffling next to him and his skin started to crawl. He was disgusted to say the least to know that Baptiste became a meal for a damn vampire. And on top of it all, he seemed to be okay with it! Wasn't that everything they went against most of their lives? Wasn't that the very thing they fought to prevent?
He saw him put his phone on the nightstand and get comfortable for sleep. Resting so soundly when he fucked somebody other than him, and a vamp, no less? What was it about him that swayed him so easily? 'Maybe I should try a piece of that to see what the hype is about,' he thought to himself. He was one of those pretty boys, so he guessed he could see why Baptiste was swayed. Even so, all of this was wrong, and he wasn't going out without letting either of them know what was on his mind.
Eventually, they both dozed off, further on the bed than they'd ever been from each other. Whatever tie or connection they had was now severed, unrepairable.
A soft, continuous buzzing woke Baptiste up and he quickly reached for his phone, shutting the alarm off. Nine-thirty, just what he wanted. He sat up and stretched, glancing at a sleeping Mauga. If he kept quiet, he could sneak out without him waking up. Times like these, he was thankful he was a heavy sleeper.
Little did he know, Mauga was awake and just lying there. He wasn't sleeping very well with what was going on, so the silenced alarm on his phone woke him up. He listened to him putter around in the dark, putting clothes on and even going as far as spraying cologne. Sneaking out like a teenager now?
It was clear he was going to meet up with his new vampire lover, but as undeniably infuriating as that was, it was perfect. It gave him an opening to implement his plan without question. He waited patiently for him to leave before packing up his own things, as this would be his last evening in that hotel room. It was unfortunate things had to end this way, but it was what it was. He'd work through the pain by taking solo jobs, taking his anger and frustration out on any vamp that crossed his path and working his body until he couldn't think about anything else.
Before he left, there was one thing he needed to do. He pulled out his paper map, laying it on the kitchen table as he looked for specific coordinates. "Found it," he said, scribbling numbers on a sticky note and leaving it on the table.
When the time was right, Baptiste would go to those coordinates.
He shoved the map in his bag and slung it across his back, making sure he grabbed all his things. "Time to break some hearts." He was upset and hurt, and he wanted everyone to feel what he felt!
"So, you're going to meet up with this stranger?" Satya leaned against Niran's door frame and watched him get ready for his date, brushing his hair at his vanity. "Didn't you just see him mere hours ago?"
"Aren't you glad I'm out of your hair?" Niran smiled, spritzing himself with a scent he'd curated from a few flowers. How should he wear his hair? Should he pull it up in a messy bun? Should he pull it back in a neat ponytail? Or should he just let it hang loose around his face?
"You are right. Enjoy your night," Satya turned, about to walk away when he stopped her.
"Satya, wait! I need help with my hair," Niran fussed with his side bangs, debating on brushing it back or leaving it down. "How should I wear it?"
"It looks fine."
"You really think it's okay to leave it down like this?" He wasn't sure why he was making such a big deal about his hair. It wasn't like Bap hadn't already seen him with it messed up!
"It is true you never wear it down, but I have always liked the way it looks on you," Satya stepped into his room, warm and inviting as always. "But are you really going to wear that? You had it on earlier."
"You think I should change?" Niran hopped up, raiding his closet for something new to put on.
"I mean, if it's a date, then yes. Where are you taking him?" Satya liked this side of him. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone to keep him distracted for a while.
"I'm taking him to a karaoke bar," Niran held up a white silk shirt and stood in the mirror. "This is cute, right? I can wear all white and be some sort of angel. What do you think?"
"You're insane. Remember, whatever this is, it's temporary." Satya hated to be the one to burst his bubble, but he needed to be brought back down to reality. There was no future with this man.
"Oh, stop with the negativity," Niran huffed, taking off his shirt and putting the white one on. "You can't predict the future! You never know, maybe he'll turn for me."
"Unlikely. No one willingly turns."
"Ah, but when you're in love…" Niran found his matching white chong kben and swapped his bottoms quickly.
"Listen to you! You just met this guy and you're talking about love. You're getting ahead of yourself." Satya didn't believe in soulmates or love at first sight or anything like that. She believed relationships took time to grow. Whatever this was, she was sure it was just lust. "Eventually you will get tired of each other and go your separate ways. I know you, dost. You're a lone wolf."
Even though everything she said would be true if it were some random guy, this was Bap. There was no one else like him. He'd lived long and traveled far, meeting all types of people along the way. There was no one else—aside from Satya—he would rather spend his solitude with than him. He just knew it. He felt it. How would she react if she knew they were bound together? She probably wouldn't be too happy about it, but it was going to come out eventually. He just needed to wait for the right time to tell her.
"Nothing to say? Strange. You always have something to say."
"You will just have to wait and see for yourself," Niran picked up his phone and saw a text from Bap, giving him butterflies.
'Am I the only one that's excited, or am I weird?'
"When you find a connection like this, you'll understand," he said matter-of-factly, texting Bap back. If he were lying in bed, he'd be kicking his feet with glee!
'You're weird. I'm kidding! I'm excited too! You should see me fussing with my hair!'
"No, thank you," Satya rolled her eyes. "I choose to spend my life in solitude."
"Oh, Satya!" Niran bounced over to her, taking her hands and swinging them happily. "I can't wait for you to see us together! You'll see!"
"But you snuck him out like a teenager. How am I supposed to meet him?" Satya was curious about their relationship. She knew how up in the air he could get and by the sounds of it, this Baptiste was the same way. Two dreamers? That only spelled disaster.
"Come on, you know you would have had a fit if you came home to find him here," Niran said as his phone dinged.
'You're cute. Don't worry about your hair, you're perfect as you are.'
"You are right again," Satya saw him absorbed in his phone, probably texting his new friend. "However, I see this is someone important to you. I wish to meet him."
Niran lit up, both at her words and Bap's. He truly was surrounded by wonderful beings. Satya saying that only meant there was a higher chance of her accepting him! "Really?! That means so much to me!"
"Of course, mera dost. If you are insistent that he is trustworthy, I have no problem meeting him." She knew he would be just as supportive if she were in his shoes, so why not cut him some slack? He was the most important person in her life, so if this guy was special to him, she supposed she could be open-minded.
"I'm so excited! Maybe you can meet him tomorrow, I'll ask him tonight," he said, grinning at his phone as he tapped away.
'Stop saying all the right things!'
"What time are you meeting him?" She took it upon herself to smooth the wrinkles out of his shirt quickly, working through the slight discomfort of her bubble being invaded.
"Ten," he replied, checking the time. "Oh, no! I'm running behind!" He scurried over to the mirror, checking his outfit one final time before breezing down the hall.
"Probably because you spent so much time messing with your hair." Satya watched amused as he skittered over to the door, checking his hair again in the small hallway mirror on his way out. "Be safe," she said as he waved goodbye and left the house.
She shuffled into the kitchen, wiping down the surfaces even though she knew he had done it already. As annoying as it was to have the possibility of someone new infiltrating their lives, she was pleased that Niran was happy. She hadn't seen him like this in quite some time, and she wanted him to stay like this.
There were a few times when she thought about perhaps putting herself out there, but she came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the eventual pain. Everything was temporary. Love, connections, friendships. Whether it was due to aging and dying or judgment, nothing lasted, and she saw it firsthand with Niran. In their years together, there had only been one other person to keep his attention like this, and it was right around the time they first became good friends.
She picked stuff up, tidying select spots around the house as she reminisced. He'd gotten to know some guy and was even on the brink of falling in love, however, the guy somehow found out he wasn't human, so it didn't end well. She remembered being afraid; the guy turned out to be a bit aggressive and tried to hurt him! The foul words that came out of that man's mouth would stay with her for the rest of her life, and it was for that reason that she chose to keep to herself.
She didn't understand. Their lives were long. Why waste time getting to know someone and building deep connections just for it to end with the snap of a finger? Why was he putting himself through this pain? Was Baptiste really that special?
Even if he was, was she willing to invite him into her space? Did he know he was fraternizing with a vampire? Niran said something about turning him, what if this guy was completely infatuated with him, and consented to being turned? At that point, there would be someone new she would have to get used to.
She supposed she could move out and live freely on her own, but as much as she detested it, she was very attached to Niran. She would never tell him to his face, but she wasn't sure how she would cope without seeing him on a regular basis. He was a huge part of her daily routine, and if it came down to it, she'd rather add something to it and change it up a little than lose it completely. She just needed to meet this man and get to know him on her own terms.
She picked up one of her favorite books and retreated to the reclining chair in her little nook in the living room. What kind of guy was he? Was he someone she could count on for protection? Niran was a good judge of character, so he must have been a nice guy. But was he seriously thinking of changing his entire life? As far as she knew, he was just a visitor, but Niran made it sound like he was going to drop everything to be with him!
She wished she had his confidence.
It was because of his confidence that he was able to lend a helping hand to her all those years ago. It was because of his confidence that he was able to teach her his ways of life, healing, and getting energy from the earth. He was truly a special one.
Who's to say this Baptiste guy even deserved his kindness? If her best friend was going to let someone into the more private part of their lives, she needed to make sure he was worthy! The last thing she wanted was to see him hurt.
She hoped their date was going well. The way their relationship was developing… it was a bit unorthodox, but it was working for them.
Eventually, she became engrossed in her book, unaware that hours had gone by and it was late into the night. The only thing that brought her out of her own little world was a knock on the door. Thinking it was a drunk Niran, she dragged herself out of the comfort of her chair and to the door. "Don't tell me you lost your keys," she fussed, opening the door to someone who was not Niran.
"Expecting someone else?" Mauga had a sadistic grin on his face as his plan came to fruition. He'd been tracking Baptiste to make sure he was still out doing whatever, and his location was pinging to some bar. It worked in his favor, as it gave him time to scope out the house he was in earlier. The Indian woman appeared to be home alone, which meant his assumptions of him going out with the vamp were true.
Why else would he have put on cologne to go to a random bar, when he didn't even wear it for him?
Satya was no fool; all it took was one look at this man to see he was a hunter! How did he find her? She panicked, turning to run when she was easily captured. No way this was happening! This couldn't be how it ended! And Niran wasn't there to protect her! "Please!" She pleaded with the beast before everything went dark.
Baptiste made it to his destination, happy to know he arrived first. Sitting on a bench nearby, he fiddled with his phone and checked out his surroundings. He wasn't sure why, but he was a little nervous! He couldn't confidently say he had a first date, which was embarrassing at his age. He'd spent nearly all of his adult life with Mauga, and with all the time they spent hunting together, their relationship just transformed into something deeper. One day, he was invited to visit him in Samoa, one thing led to another, and he just never left.
His parents died when he was young, so he didn't have any family growing up. And with omnics taking over his small town and the few vamp encounters he had, his teen years were grim. He felt like the only thing he could do was get his license and at least help protect the world from one of the two. And within the first month of his training, he met Mauga.
So, he was nervous but excited to see his lotus tonight. He wanted to know what it was like to be in a normal relationship, where they traveled and did fun, silly things together. Where they built a life and a home and whatever else regular folks did. He wanted to know what it was like to be with someone sweet and gentle.
"Bap!" Niran was happy to see him there waiting for him in his black leather jacket and blue shirt. "You look handsome, as usual."
"Bua," Bap stood and held his hands, kissing him on his cheek and looking at his outfit. "You look like an angel in this," he held his hand so he could spin for him. "White looks good on you."
"I was hoping you'd like this," Niran held onto his arm and walked him towards the karaoke bar, spotting a real bar across the street. "Wait! Before we sing… want to drink?"
"Absolutely," Bap replied without hesitation, happily being pulled towards a bustling bar.
"Thank you for coming out tonight. I can't lie, I'm a little nervous!" Niran hadn't been on a date in what felt like eons! The last guy he tried to open up to wasn't so nice in the end, so he'd been afraid to put himself out there. He knew Bap was different, though. "It's been so long."
"That makes two of us, heh," Bap chuckled as they entered the dimly lit establishment. He heard the bartender speaking English to a few tourists, so he was confident enough to order for them. "Why don't you get us a booth while I order us some drinks?"
"Of course, dàalíng!" Niran swooned, letting their fingers linger for a bit. He was such a gentleman!
"What would you like?" Bap asked, heading toward the bar to order.
"I'll have a Sabai Sabai," Niran hummed, looking at the menu behind the bar. That was a good starter drink!
"I have no clue what that is," Bap looked at the menu, seeing what he was talking about. It apparently featured some sort of Thai liquor called Mekhong.
"Just tell the guy at the counter, he'll know what you want," Niran said as he fluttered away to find a table.
Baptiste did as instructed, ordering his lotus what he asked for while ordering himself a whiskey. He picked up the drinks and scanned the bar for Niran, spotting him in the far corner waving him over. He swore he could see hearts in his eyes as he walked toward him. "See something you like?" He asked, sliding into the seat across from him.
"If I said no to that, I'd be a crazy man," Niran took a healthy sip of his drink, appreciating how well it was made. "This is so good! What'd you order?"
"Just a whiskey," Bap replied. He liked his energy. He was always so bubbly, and it was infectious.
"Try this!" Niran slid his glass over to him, watching him investigate it before trying some. "Good, right?"
"It's alright," Bap liked it, but he preferred good old beer and the occasional whiskey. "Not really what I'd go for, but it's not bad."
"It's one of my favorites," Niran let his foot travel up and down his shin under the table. "So, tell me, why are you nervous?"
"Oh, me?" Bap couldn't hold back his tiny smile. What a flirt. "Don't laugh at me, but this is my first date."
"Really? No way," Niran couldn't believe this was his first date! "Someone as handsome as you?"
"My situation over the last decade or so has been…" Bap paused to take a swig of whiskey. "Let's say it was complicated."
"Situation, hm?" Niran was curious about his love life. Did he have anyone special at home waiting for him? If he did, he wouldn't be on a date, right?
"What about you?" Bap asked, changing the subject. He couldn't tell him about Mauga yet. He needed a little more time. "Why are you nervous?"
"It's been a long time since I've done this," Niran sighed, stirring his drink with the tiny straw. "And when I did, it didn't go so well."
"What happened?" Bap saw the pain in his eyes and wanted him to talk through it. "This is a safe space."
"I know," Niran gave a sad smile, sipping his drink and taking his hand across the table. "I don't remember the fine details, but he found out… you know, and things got violent. Since then, Satya and I just kept to ourselves."
"You don't have to worry about that with me, Bua," Bap squeezed his hand. "I know that must have been hard to get over. You no longer have to live in fear. I'll keep you both safe."
"Well, that makes me happy to hear," Niran already knew Bap was a good guy, and he already had a feeling of safety whenever he was around. "Satya wants to meet you."
"Wow, already?" Bap was surprised. "Does she know I'm a hunter?"
"Not yet," Niran replied sheepishly. "I figured we could cross that bridge when we get there."
"Okay." Bap was ready to prove his usefulness. Convincing a vamp that a hunter was friendly was a challenging task, but he could do it. After all, hadn't he already convinced Niran? "I'm ready."
"Really?" Niran lit up. "I'll text her right now and tell her! How about tomorrow?"
"Sure, whatever works best for you," Bap agreed before thinking about the actions behind his words. He'd told Mauga they'd figure things out tomorrow, but here he was, already making plans. A part of him liked the fact that he was actually living his life leisurely now, but another part of him still felt like trash for handling things this way. What was his next step?
"Sorry, a karaoke bar was the best I could come up with," Niran sighed, finishing his drink and wishing for another. "Nightlife in Lampang isn't as lavish as it is in Bangkok."
"You'll have to take me there one day," Bap said shamelessly. By now, it was settled in his head that he was going to stick around and see where things took them. Was that bad? He finished his drink, seeing that Bua finished his as well. "Want another?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll be right back, mon cher," Bap said, sliding out of the booth and heading back to the counter to order more drinks. His lotus was so dazzling, he didn't want to be away from that bright smile for longer than a second! God, he was so whipped, and he didn't care in the least.
Niran expected a text back from Satya and was surprised that he hadn't heard from her yet. "Maybe she's reading or something," he said, lighting up again when he saw Bap returning. "Bap!"
"Miss me?" Instead of sitting across from him, Bap slid in next to him, putting an arm around his shoulder.
"But of course," Niran leaned in, nuzzling and smelling his neck. He could see the faint mark he left and that feeling of possessiveness crept up on him again.
"Good, because I missed you too," Bap sipped his drink while Bua kissed his neck. He loved the attention he was getting, and he could tell he hadn't had anyone to give it to.
"You smell so good, mmm," Niran nearly sucked on his neck, reminding himself to be proper. They were in a public setting, he couldn't be all over him like this! "I should stop," he said with a guilty smile, putting a few inches of space between them.
"No, come back," Bap closed the gap he put between them, returning the favor and giving his neck some attention. "Afraid you're going to eat me again?"
Niran laughed, feeling good from the alcohol. "No, well maybe," he looked around to see everyone else off in their own world before grinning in his face. "I need to behave before people look at us like we're crazy!"
"I don't mind at all," Bap cupped his cheek, tipsy from the liquor. He hadn't felt this good in a long time. "This is nice. I don't get to go out like this much."
"What do you do in your free time? You know, when you're not being a sexy bad boy," Niran threw his legs across his lap, quite buzzed as he put back a good portion of his second drink. He wanted to get absolutely wasted with him tonight!
Bap laughed at his drunken compliment, rubbing his leg and taking his drink like a shot. "'Sexy bad boy', huh?" He cleared his throat, reminding himself that the uncomfortable burn in his throat and chest was only temporary. What did he do in his free time? He just sort of lazed around the house with Mauga, and he desperately wanted to change that. "I guess I just drink or work out a little. Sometimes I'll go to the beach. To be honest, I usually don't know what to do when I have the downtime."
"Don't worry, you'll have lots of fun with me!" Niran declared promisingly. "I'll take you to Bangkok first and show you the nightlife. Sorry, I'm a night owl."
"Same here," Bap gazed into his bright brown eyes, nothing else existed but him.
"What are Haitian beaches like? I've never been," Niran had some serious tunnel vision; this delicious piece of chocolate was the only thing he saw.
"I can't say I've ever been either," Bap replied honestly. He was drunk and couldn't think two responses into the future, unintentionally leading into a topic he didn't want to get into.
"What? You're from Haiti, right?" Niran finished his drink and twirled the ends of his hair, looking at him expectantly.
"I am, but my childhood wasn't great," Bap didn't like talking about it, but he was easy to talk to. "I ended up getting my license a few years after I turned eighteen and moved away."
"So, where's your home now?" Niran wished he knew everything there was to know about him, but he'd wait patiently and get to know him as time went on.
"Samoa," Bap said, realizing he was crossing uncharted waters. He needed to avert the topic before he asked any more questions! "And you? You're from here, right? What led you to China?"
"A change of pace," Niran saw the flicker of nerves that led him to change the subject and went along with it. He understood there may have been things he wasn't comfortable talking about yet and respected it. "But Satya and I were getting homesick anyway, so we decided to come back."
"Sorry again," Bap still felt like an asshole for raiding his home.
"No! Don't be sorry!" Niran wrapped his arms around him tightly. "It was fate! If you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have found my soulmate…" he trailed off a little, feeling insane for saying that out loud. He buried his face in his shirt, hiding his embarrassment.
"Bua, look at me," Bap lifted his chin, and it was like he was looking down at his entire world. "Don't be shy, I feel the same way," he kissed him tenderly, tasting the sweetness of his drink on his lips.
"So… you'll run away from your home in Samoa to stay with me?" Niran had to ask! He couldn't live on assumptions anymore!
"I can honestly say I didn't truly feel at home there," How would his lotus feel to know that the second hunter he was with was the one he'd spent his life with? It was true he never fully felt at home with Mauga, and it was even truer that Niran provided him with a feeling of warmth and love and openness that Mauga didn't have the capability of giving. "But I do feel at home with you."
"Does that mean you're not nervous anymore?" Niran poked at the ice in his drink, wanting another, but not wanting to ask. Bar drinks could get expensive!
"No, my nerves left as soon as I saw your smiling face," Bap saw him fiddling with his cup and took it from his hands, slipping out of the booth. "Be right back." He had a hunch he didn't want to ask for another drink, but it was all good. Bap planned on cashing out during their date, not letting him pay for a thing as a true gentleman should.
After about another hour or so of more drinks and conversation, they clumsily made their way across the street to the karaoke bar where Bap was promptly serenaded by a drunk Niran. He sat on the black leather couch in their room with a few beers, watching him admiringly as he slurred his way through a variety of Thai songs, and even some popular international ones. He was so talented, with the voice of an angel. He could get used to this for sure.
Niran could barely see straight, but he was going to put on a show for his man regardless of whether he could read the words or not! He knew most of the songs anyway, but there were a few that tripped him up a bit. All he could do was stutter through the words with silly giggles while Bap sat and watched him so fondly. "Come sing with me!" He said, pulling him up from his seat and dragging him onto the small stage.
"I'm not much of a singer…" Bap said shyly. It was clear that Niran was going to be the performer of the relationship, and he was completely okay with that! He'd rather watch, anyway.
"Oh, come on!" Niran threw his arms around him, swaying to the music and finishing the last part of the song that was playing. "You should know this next one," he said, shuffling to a popular love song. "It's called 'Amor Místico'. Heard of it?"
"Yeah, I do actually know that one," Bap said, reaching for his beer and chugging it. It was safe to say they were both completely plastered and enjoying each other's company. "By Lucio, right?"
"Only one of his most popular songs," Niran rocked his hips seductively to the music, holding onto Bap and singing into the microphone. His Portuguese wasn't great, but it was good enough to butcher the lyrics incomprehensibly!
Bap hummed and danced alone with his lotus as he was handed the mic to sing the next verse. Again, he got a little shy, but the alcohol made things a lot easier. He didn't know Portuguese, but he knew the tune, so all he had to do was read off the teleprompter. He didn't know when, but he eventually ended up facing him and singing horribly to him. "Meu amor por você não tem limites~," he sang, holding him by the waist and dipping him.
Niran just wanted to throw himself at him! He was so sexy and strong, and the way his baritone voice got deeper with each note made him melt! He held onto him, puckering his lips drunkenly.
Bap disregarded the rest of the song, meeting his lips in an intoxicated kiss. Everything about this, everything about him was amazing in every way. He'd never felt more confident in life than he did in that moment.
"I'm so drunk," Niran giggled in a nearly unintelligible slur, slipping a hand under his shirt and feeling him up. "I'm having such a great time. Is it bad that I can't wait to see you again tomorrow?"
"It's not bad at all," Bap slurred, equally drunk and absolutely smitten with this stunning flower. He hummed, rubbing their noses together. "Mwen eksite."
"I've been meaning to ask," Niran held his face, planting kisses on his cheeks. "What language is that?"
"Haitian Creole," Bap realized he probably slipped in and out of it from time to time and didn't think twice about it.
"Oh, yeah," Niran hiccupped, feeling goofy for even asking. "Duh, you're from Haiti! I'm so dumb," he laughed, hanging onto his neck and wrapping a leg around him. He didn't remember alcohol making him so clingy like this! He was glad they had a private room!
"Never dumb," Bap clarified, not caring in the least that he was practically climbing him. He liked being wanted. "Just drunk."
"Will you teach me?" Niran played in his soft hair, obsessed with everything about him. "I've been wanting to learn a new language."
"Funny you say that because I've been thinking about learning Thai," Bap held onto him and walked him to the couch, letting him get comfortable on his lap.
"We can teach each other!" Niran sat sideways on his lap, resting his head on his shoulder. He needed to be careful; he could fall asleep like this!
"Yeah?" Bap rubbed his arm as he leaned against him. As much as it would be nice to fall asleep with him in his arms, they weren't in a place where they could do that! "I'd like that."
Niran lifted his head and squeezed his cheeks, needing a definite answer. "So, you'll stay with me? Please?"
Baptiste took his hands and kissed his knuckles, wasn't it clear by now? "I'll stay with you, Bua." His drunken words were heavier in his mind than he wanted them to be, but he couldn't avoid the huge obstacle he was approaching.
However… knowing what the reward would be once he overcame that obstacle made it all worthwhile.
"Oh, thank you, Bap!" Niran hugged him tightly, happy to hear it rather than assume it. With them being bound, he wouldn't have gotten far without crawling back to him, but he wanted him to make the decision on his own. "I'm so happy!"
"Me too," Bap smelled his hair as it brushed against his nose, very fond of the flowery scent it gave off. He was perfection.
Time flew when they were together, and their date sadly came to an end. Being the chivalrous man that he was, Bap generously escorted him home, not wanting him to go back alone. Niran couldn't wait to have him around all the time! Satya would like him; he was sure of it! He just needed to sleep the alcohol off and wake up refreshed enough to talk to her and set up a time for him to stop by.
"I had a really good time," Niran said, being helped up his porch. He would have fallen if not for Bap's assistance! "I'd invite you in, but I don't know if Satya would appreciate that," he mumbled, draping his arms around a drunk, but sturdy Bap.
"I get it," as badly as Bap wanted to go inside and have his way with him in an inebriated swirl of passion, he would be patient and wait until his next opportunity. "We'll be together tomorrow."
"Yes," Niran pouted, kissing him longingly. "I guess I should let you get back so you can rest."
"Don't worry, Bua," the thought of having to return to Mauga and come up with yet another excuse made him nauseous, but knowing he'd get to see his lotus again soon trumped all negative thoughts. "Just message me when you're up. We can go somewhere and hang around until later if you want."
"I'd love that," Niran was dizzy. He hadn't drank this much in a while, and he wasn't looking forward to whatever hangover he'd have in the morning. "Go, your cab is waiting. Text me when you make it back safely," he kissed him again and said his goodbyes as he went inside, too drunk to notice that the door was left slightly ajar.
He waved at Bap through the window and watched him until he could no longer see him, keeping his phone handy for when he messaged him. He was in such a great mood, even if the room was spinning! He trudged through the house, stopping briefly at the living room entrance. It looked like Satya was in the middle of a book and must have gotten up or something.
Brushing it away as her being in the bathroom or in her room, he made it to his own room and collapsed onto his mattress, fully dressed. He was way too sleepy to do anything else other than lie there as his eyelids grew heavy. No! He wanted to wait for Bap to tell him he made it back! But as much as he fought it, sleep overtook him in a matter of minutes, letting him drift off into dreams of the future.
Even though the hotel wasn't far, Bap was way too drunk to walk. He'd gotten in the backseat of his cab, cold from the sudden lack of Bua's warmth and wished he could cuddle up with him in his bed. Unfortunately, he had a demon to face when he got back, and he just prayed he was too deep in sleep to notice he'd even left.
He paid the driver and stumbled into the hotel and to his room, a little mad at himself for getting this sloppy. If he were going to do this again, he'd have to make sure they had a place to return to together! All he wanted was to sleep the drunkenness away with his lotus in his arms, but that day would come soon.
Again, he entered the room to find it empty, and verbally expressed relief, shutting the door behind him and dragging his body to the bed. He was too drunk and tired to notice Mauga had cleared all his things out of the room or the lone piece of paper on the kitchen table. All he could manage to do was rip off his shoes and jacket and fall into bed, more than thankful that he was alone. He wasn't sure where he went, nor did he care in that moment. All that mattered was that he was well-rested enough to meet Bua's best friend.
And as hours passed and sweet dreams of creating new memories with Niran kept him in a deep, content sleep, he was awakened by nonstop buzzing coming from the phone he failed to take out of his pocket before bed. He groaned, covering his eyes for a few seconds to stop the light from further assaulting his headache as his phone stopped vibrating, then immediately started up again.
"Bondye mwen," he muttered, patting his pockets sluggishly. Who the hell was blowing him up like this, and—he looked around the near empty room—where the hell was Mauga? He finally dug his phone out of his pocket, eyes widening when he saw "Bua" on the screen. Shit, he'd forgotten to let him know he made it back and was probably worried about him.
"Hey," he said, morning voice in full effect. "Sorry, I forgot to text you…"
"Bap! Satya's missing!" Came the frantic voice on the other end. "Please, come help me!"
"Whoa, whoa, Bua," Bap snapped out of it, throwing the comforter to the side and standing. "Calm down and tell me what's going on," he said calmly, locating his shoes and sitting to put them on.
"I came inside last night and saw her things in the living room and thought nothing of it, but when I woke up, her stuff was still there, but she's nowhere to be found!"
"Okay, give me twenty minutes, I'll get to you as fast as I can," Bap didn't like the pain in his lotus' voice, and he'd do anything to hear his happiness again. Where Satya went was a mystery, but it was a mystery they'd solve together.
"Please hurry!" Niran pleaded.
"Okay, I'm heading out now, Bua," Bap said, his eyes landing on the piece of paper on the table as he quickly put on his gear. He really didn't have time to look at it, but his curiosity brought him closer and saw that there was nothing written on it besides coordinates.
"Thank you!"
"Sure thing," Bap said, hanging up and snatching the paper. He recognized it immediately as Mauga's handwriting and put two and two together, his blood running cold. Suddenly, his disappearance made sense. "Oh, no…"